In search of a better quality of life, fulfilling our dreams to see the world and provide ourselves and young children with invaluable experiences, we sold our home and possessions in London to begin our journey of a lifetime.
Here we will share our tips, stories, successes and failures, not only for our families and friends, but also to assist those who may have similar adventures in mind. We hope also to inspire those who relish the idea of travelling to newer and unfamiliar pastures but do not know how and those who require some evidence it can be done.

10 December 2010

I have a beautiful hot pink four-wheel roller suitcase. It is actually too big for what I need alone, at least in regards to my clothing and footwear. But I didn't purchase this bountiful box on wheels just for my attire. The majority of the contents of my suitcase are taken up by what I call my 'emergency stash of supplies': homeopathic kits; vitamins; herbs and herbal creams for sickness/injury; chemical-free shampoos; conditioners; soaps and lotions; essential oils and any other health and well-being thing that I think might be hard to come by while travelling.

Packing accoutrements for this 11-month itinerary was relatively painless, especially as I knew whilst I was packing that I was pregnant. Some might think that growing a bump might complicate the thread-packing process, but actually it simplified it.

Prior to this trip I felt like I had already mastered the art of light packing - for a lady anyway! Generally, one medium travel compression sac (think vacuum-seal bag minus the need for a hoover) holds all my garments and one small travel compression sac carries the overflow, such as knickers, socks, bathing suits and scarf. This not only neatly compartmentalises my things, but also keeps it fresh-smelling and safe from anything that might leak from my toiletry bag or emergency stash stuffs.

My packing protocols are:

1) Know the climate I am packing for

2) Colour co-ordinate my clothing

3) Be realistic and then ruthless

One of my best tips for packing lightly is to colour co-ordinate your clothing. This means taking only two or three complimentary colours of garb, so that way they can be mixed, matched, layered and interchanged, giving you the feel that you have more clothing options than you do. It also prevents you from looking like you are wearing the same thing in every photo.

Next, lay out everything in categories (bottoms in one section, tank tops in another etc.) that you want to pile into your suitcase. Before even attempting to put any of it into your bag, get ruthless by trying to cut your selection by half. Do you really need two black pairs of trousers or three white tops? When in doubt, call in a friend, lover or discerning pet and have them use some tough love.

That is normally how I would fill my compression sacs. But this time was a little different given my new potential for growth. Basically, I did not put anything into my pile that I could not wear for my entire pregnancy or after the birth and for breastfeeding. That in itself really cut down my choices. I knew that we would only be travelling with the sun, so that eliminated the need for packing for more than one climate. I also know my tendency to be cold, even in warmer temperatures, so I took that into my decision-making process.

Here is the crux of what I packed for my 11 months of travel for pregnancy, post-birth and breastfeeding:

Trousers: 1 black, 1 brown and 1 purple pair of yoga bottoms (they are all slightly different cuts and I really didn't need to bring the purple pair, but while I travel lightly I am still female). Note that I did not pack any jeans. Although I could have brought a maternity pair along, I decided, given the weight of jeans and the climates that we would be in, they could be left back in my mother-in-law's loft.

Tops: 2 very lightweight long-sleeve tops, 2 T-shirts, 4 tank tops/vests (all are quite long in the midriff, which can cover an expanding belly)

Dresses: all in the baby doll or flowing styles - perfect for growing bump and breasts (2 long, 3 short)

Tidbits:1 pair of shorts (low-waist and elastic), 1 cardigan, 1 rain jacket, 3 bikinis (okay, I went a bit crazy here, they are just tiny takes so can be justified)

Footwear: Vibrams (these serve as my sneakers, not great in rain, though), Teva sandals (mine are a bit more dressy than their classic version and priceless in comfort for long walks) and flip-flops (for the beach)

Actually, I don't think I have any proper maternity clothing items with me. Going on how I filled-out during my first pregnancy, I just brought sensible items that can be adapted as I expand in the midriff. Plus, almost all of my dresses and tops are breastfeeding-friendly already!

Remember, if you have forgotten an article of clothing, you can always pick one up during your travels. We place more packing importance on our odd-ball organicky type of things than quantity of get-ups.